SINGAPORE, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The partnership between NLCS (Singapore) and the Wheelchair Rugby Association Singapore began through the initiative of an NLCS (Singapore) student who, after becoming involved with the association, learned that WRAS was at risk of losing access to its long-standing training venue. Recognising the significance of the programme and the impact it has on its athletes, the student brought a detailed proposal to senior staff, advocating for meaningful, long-term support.

That proposal led to a formal partnership in which NLCS (Singapore) committed both sustained sponsorship and access to its sporting facilities, enabling WRAS athletes to practise, and host matches in a stable and supportive environment. The partnership reflects the school’s belief in student leadership and in education that extends beyond the classroom.

WRAS has since continued to grow as a competitive and inclusive sporting community, providing athletes with opportunities to train at a high level while fostering resilience, teamwork, and a strong sense of belonging.

“Wheelchair rugby fosters community inclusion and belonging by providing a structured, supportive environment where individuals with disabilities can participate in a demanding team sport,” said Clare, Secretary and Volunteer at the Wheelchair Rugby Association Singapore.

The strength of this partnership was evident at a recent ceremony, where WRAS athletes were presented with their national jerseys ahead of their participation in the ASEAN Para Games. The event was a moving occasion, celebrating not only sporting excellence but also the collective effort behind the athletes’ journey.

Paul Friend, Director of NLCS (Singapore), attended the ceremony and reflected on the relationship between the school and WRAS:

“This partnership began because one of our students saw something important at risk and was determined to act. What followed was a thoughtful, well-argued case for how we could help in a way that really mattered. Supporting WRAS has been immensely rewarding, not just because of what it enables for the athletes, but because of what our own students learn through being connected with such inspiring people. It is a relationship from which we have all benefited.”

NLCS (Singapore) looks forward to continuing its partnership with WRAS and to supporting the athletes as they compete on the regional stage, while remaining committed to student-led initiatives that create meaningful impact beyond the school community.

About North London Collegiate School (Singapore)  

Founded in August 2020, North London Collegiate School (Singapore) is a British International School offering the academically ambitious NLCS curriculum, followed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme and culminating in the IB Diploma Programme. 

Drawing on 175 years of educational heritage from its founding school in the UK, NLCS (Singapore) nurtures individuals to be intellectually curious, socially confident, and grounded in compassion through a rigorous academic framework, rich co-curricular opportunities, and exceptional pastoral care.

Situated on Depot Road, the School is part of a global family of schools committed to educational excellence and developing global citizens.

To learn more about NLCS (Singapore), please visit our website (https://nlcssingapore.sg/) and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

For media enquiries, please contact the NLCS (Singapore) Marketing Team
Email: marketing@nlcssingapore.sg

• Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) grants MCO-010 Sakigake (Pioneering Regenerative Medical Product) and Orphan Drug designations, enabling an accelerated regulatory pathway for patients with severe inherited retinal diseases
• Enhances strong global regulatory momentum, including multiple FDA expedited programs and five EMA Orphan designations
• FDA, EMA and PMDA conditionally approve the MOGENRY™ brand name
• Strengthens global pre-commercialization readiness and reinforces leadership in optogenetic therapy

DALLAS, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nanoscope Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing disease-agnostic therapies for vision loss caused by retinal degeneration, today announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has granted both Sakigake (Pioneering Regenerative Medical Product) and Orphan Drug designations to MCO-010, its lead optogenetic therapy for patients with severe vision loss from inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). Approximately 50,000 patients in Japan are affected by IRDs.

Sakigake is Japan’s premier fast-track regulatory program for innovative therapies addressing serious unmet medical needs. The designation enables prioritized regulatory consultation and review—often targeting a six-month review timeline—through collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and may support premium pricing following approval. Combined with Orphan Drug designation for rare, high-need conditions, the decision establishes a clear regulatory pathway for MCO-010 in Japan and marks the first Sakigake designation granted to a retinal gene therapy.

“These designations represent an important milestone for Nanoscope and for patients living with inherited retinal diseases,” said Samarendra Mohanty, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Nanoscope Therapeutics. “Sakigake recognition underscores the novelty of MCO-010 and its potential to address profound vision loss where no approved treatments exist. Together with our progress in the U.S. and Europe, we are advancing one of the most comprehensive global regulatory strategies in optogenetic retinal gene therapy.”

The MHLW decision builds on strong regulatory momentum across major markets, including five Orphan designations from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and multiple expedited programs from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) across retinal indications. In addition, the FDA, EMA and PMDA have conditionally approved the MOGENRY™ brand name, as Nanoscope continues to advance its rolling Biologics License Application (BLA) for retinitis pigmentosa in the United States.

With regulatory pathways now established in Japan, the United States, and Europe, MCO-010 is positioned as the most advanced optogenetic platform therapy in development worldwide.

Contact:
Nanoscope Therapeutics, Inc
(817) 857-1186
PR@nanostherapeutics.com

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Momentum builds behind AI partnership following last year’s announcement of a 5GW UAE–US AI Campus and chip approvals as leaders meet in Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, G42 Group CEO Peng Xiao joined David Sacks, White House Advisor on Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, for a timely discussion on the future of U.S.–UAE AI cooperation and what it will take to compete at scale in the global AI race.

G42

As AI rapidly moves from experimentation to mass adoption, the panel underscored a central reality that AI leadership will be defined by ecosystem partnerships, infrastructure readiness, and access to energy and compute at unprecedented scale. Speaking at the UAE Pavilion, Sacks highlighted the UAE, and G42, as a critical partner in enabling this next phase of AI growth, emphasizing the importance of trusted partners that can deliver gigawatt-scale power and deploy AI on U.S. technology stacks.

From G42’s perspective, Xiao shared insights from building and operating AI infrastructure at scale, stressing that trust, execution, and long-term investment are foundational to success. He highlighted the UAE’s unique ability to support global AI workloads efficiently from Abu Dhabi, reaching billions of users worldwide with ultra-low latency, and reinforced the role of AI diffusion in sustaining U.S. leadership.

The conversation follows major milestones in U.S.–UAE AI collaboration, including the announcement of a planned 5GW UAE–U.S. AI Campus, the largest outside the United States, and recent U.S. approvals supporting advanced AI compute for G42.

Watch the full conversation to hear how U.S.–UAE AI cooperation is shaping the future of global AI leadership here: https://youtu.be/dF2SollBR_k

About G42
G42 is a technology holding group and a global leader in artificial intelligence, delivering impactful solutions across sectors including government, healthcare, energy, finance, and space. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and operating worldwide, G42 is building the Intelligence Grid to deliver intelligence on demand, securely and at scale.
For more information, visit www.g42.ai

Media Contact
For more information, please contact: G42@trailrunnerint.com 

DEERFIELD, Ill., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baxter Healthcare is pleased to share the growing success of the room temperature storage configuration of Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat, launched earlier, this Summer, across Australia and New Zealand. Since its introduction, the product has been met with enthusiastic adoption by surgical teams who value convenience, versatility, and clinical performance.

Hemopatch in the OR

Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat is a ready-to-use, absorbable collagen pad designed for tissue sealing and hemostasis.¹ The new room temperature format eliminates the need for refrigeration, streamlining preparation and storage in operating rooms.¹ Surgeons across the region are finding significant value in the product’s ability to manage mild to moderate bleeding scenarios with confidence.

“Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat is an excellent product that is quite versatile across many urological operations. The ability to handle venous bleeding across wide surfaces is great for patients and has allowed me to confidently use Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat,” said Urological Surgeon, A/Prof Matthew Roberts from Queensland, Australia.

Baxter is proud to deliver meaningful value to clinicians through innovations like Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat, and empowering surgical teams in achieving their desired patient outcomes. The product’s strong reception underscores our commitment to providing solutions that help save and sustain lives.

With a shelf life of up to 36 months and compatibility with both open and minimally invasive procedures, Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat continues to be a trusted tool in operating rooms across Australia and New Zealand.¹

For more information on Hemopatch Sealing Hemostat,  
Visit: https://advancedsurgery.baxter.eu/hemopatch 

Reference:

1. Hemopatch sealing hemostat Instructions for Use.

Manufacturer:

Baxter Healthcare SA
Thurgauerstrasse 130 Glattbrugg,
ZÜRICH, 8152 Switzerland

Class of Device: III
CE0123

This content is intended solely for healthcare professionals and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any health concerns.

Hemopatch sealing hemostat is approved for use only in selected countries. For specific information on the availability and regulatory status of Hemopatch sealing hemostat room temperature in your country, we recommend contacting your local Baxter Healthcare sales representative.

Baxter and Hemopatch are trademarks of Baxter International Inc. or its subsidiaries.

GBU-AS21-250032 (v1.0) 01/2026

Hemopatch Australia IRI

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BENGALURU, India, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Syngene International, a global contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), today announced the extension of its long-standing strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb through 2035. The expanded agreement broadens the scope of integrated services across the drug development lifecycle spanning discovery (chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics), translational sciences, pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, clinical trials, data and information technology services to enable seamless progression from research to commercialization. The expansion of this collaboration marks the next phase of growth, reinforcing Syngene’s position as a strategic partner delivering integrated, end-to-end scientific and manufacturing solutions.

Peter Bains, Managing Director and CEO, Syngene International Ltd., said, “Our collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, which now spans more than 25 years, is anchored in scientific excellence, operational reliability, and a shared commitment to advancing innovative therapies. The agreement to extend this partnership through 2035 enables us to plan together for the future in terms of building new capabilities and infrastructure with a decade long horizon. Taking a long-term perspective is a key feature of our partnership which adds strategic value to both companies. We look forward to supporting BMS with their next wave of discovery, development, and manufacturing programs that have the potential to improve patient outcomes worldwide.”

Payal Sheth, Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Discovery Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, said, “At Bristol Myers Squibb, everything we do begins with patients. We greatly value our long-standing partnership with Syngene, which has been instrumental in advancing our scientific ambitions. This expanded collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing innovative science by effective integration of our research, development, and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate the delivery of transformative medicines and bring hope to patients around the world who are waiting for new treatment options.”

The collaboration between Syngene and Bristol Myers Squibb began in 1998, culminating in the establishment of the Biocon Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center (BBRC), Syngene’s first dedicated R&D Center, which was fully commissioned in 2009. Over the years, the BBRC has evolved into a major strategic R&D site for Bristol Myers Squibb, supporting integrated capabilities across target identification, lead discovery, lead optimization, pharmaceutical development, molecular and cell biology, protein sciences, assay biology and clinical biomarkers. The center, which today houses around 700 Syngene scientists working as an extension of Bristol Myers Squibb’s global research organization, contributes to discovery, preclinical development, and patent filings across therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, fibrosis, immunology, and oncology.

Since its inception, BBRC has played a pivotal role in accelerating the progression of novel compounds from early discovery to first-in-human studies, thereby helping reduce development timelines and overall costs for Bristol Myers Squibb.

About Syngene

Syngene International Ltd. (BSE: 539268, NSE: SYNGENE, ISIN: INE 398R01022) is an integrated research, development, and manufacturing services company serving the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutrition, animal health, consumer goods, and specialty chemical sectors. Syngene’s team of over 8,200 employees including 5,600 scientists, brings both deep expertise and the capacity to deliver scientific excellence, robust data security, and world class manufacturing, at speed, to improve time-to-market and lower the cost of innovation.

With over 2.5 mn sq. ft of specialized discovery, development, and manufacturing facilities across India and the U.S., Syngene works with 400 global customers across industry segments, including biotech companies pursuing leading-edge science and multinationals such as BMS, GSK, Zoetis, and Merck KGaA. For more details, visit www.syngeneintl.com. For the Company’s latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, visit Syngene ESG Report.

Media Contacts:

Vijay Jeevanandham
Syngene International Limited
M: +91 8310914552
E: Vijay.Jeevanandham@syngeneintl.com

Alex Heeley / Abdul Khalifeh
De Facto Communications
T: +44 (0) 203 735 8165 / +44 (0) 7834784764
E: a.khalifeh@defacto.co.uk
E: a.heeley@defacto.co.uk

GRAMMY® IQ built with IBM watsonx debuts ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards®

ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM), the Official Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Cloud Partner of the Grammy Awards® for nearly a decade, today announced the launch of GRAMMY® IQ built with IBM watsonx. By tapping into the power of agentic AI, the new fan engagement solution transforms the Recording Academy®’s vast reserves of music industry data into interactive quizzes that put the knowledge of music lovers to the test. IBM plans to also continue to design AI-driven solutions that automate workflows and deliver more personalized and engaging digital experiences for Recording Academy members, potential new members and millions of music enthusiasts around the world.

Preview of the new GRAMMY IQ built with IBM watsonx

“Our partnership with IBM continues to push the boundaries of how technology can celebrate and deepen the world’s connection to music,” said Adam Roth, Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships at the Recording Academy. “With GRAMMY® IQ built with watsonx, we’re not only unlocking the richness of our history and data—we’re inviting fans and members everywhere to engage with music in more meaningful, interactive and inspiring ways. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, creativity and honoring the artists and stories that shape culture across generations.”

“The Recording Academy and IBM are bringing fans closer to the music they love by leveraging AI with the Academy’s vast reserves of music industry data spanning all genres and generations,” Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM. “We are excited to collaborate together to help deliver more personalized and engaging digital experiences for the members of the Recording Academy and millions of music enthusiasts all around the world.”

GRAMMY IQ built with IBM watsonx features an AI-assistant embedded across the Grammys®’ digital channels for seamless fan interaction, leaderboards and sweepstakes for daily engagement and social sharing. It uses watsonx technologies, including IBM’s Granite 3.0 large language model (LLM), to generate questions, hints and answer explanations based on historical Grammys data. Clues will be provided, if requested, before final answers are revealed, and top fan scores will be featured in a GRAMMY IQ leaderboard on Grammy.com.

Also for the GRAMMYS 2026, IBM plans to work with the GRAMMY Museum® to reinvent Musical Crossroads, an interactive experience on their fourth floor that uses watsonx to allow visitors to explore artists and music across nearly 200 genres and give music lovers a new way to understand the rich and complex history of the industry. Each genre features artists, songs, photos, and interpretive text that connects to other genres, encouraging musical exploration and discovery.

In addition to this year’s fan features, IBM plans to continue to evolve how the Recording Academy enhances its membership digital processes for each of its 30,000+ members who represent every genre and creative discipline the music industry has to offer, from folk songwriters and classical composers to hip hop producers and sound engineers. This includes reimagining the member portal and offering translations in 4 additional languages.

This year’s solutions – a product of IBM technologies including its latest Granite LLMs, IBM’s consulting expertise, and ongoing collaboration with the Recording Academy digital and editorial teams – aim to scale content capabilities of the Recording Academy and deliver music fans, Recording Academy members and prospective members more engaging and informative digital experiences around Music’s Biggest Night®. 

Explore this year’s IBM-powered experiences and more on Grammy.com.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

About The Recording Academy
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music’s history while investing in its future through the Grammy Museum^®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares^®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the Grammy Awards^® — music’s only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world’s leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.

For more information about the Grammy Awards and the Recording Academy, please visit Grammy.com and RecordingAcademy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, “like” Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy’s social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For media assets, please visit the Recording Academy Press Room.

Media Contacts
For IBM: Paul Pettas; paulpettas@ibm.com
For the Recording Academy; communications@grammy.com

IBM and the Recording Academy Strike a Chord, Release New watsonx Digital Experiences for Fans and Members Around 2026 GRAMMY Awards®

IBM Corporation logo.